NEWTON, Mass. (9/19/15) – In the 88th minute of regulation, junior Megan Cullen (Amesbury, Mass.) sent the Lasell women's soccer team over Emmanuel College 1-0 in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle on Saturday afternoon at Taylor Field. The Lasers jump to 3-2-1 overall and continue their win streak in the GNAC at 2-0, while the Saints fall to 2-6 on the year and even out at 1-1 in conference play.
The Lasers began the conference battle with quick shots to net, applying offensive pressure early and often. Freshman Kaleigh Heffernan (Simsbury, Conn.) gave the home team their first scoring opportunity 6:51 in, as she blasted a shot on frame that was scooped up by Saints' sophomore net minder Victoria LaRoche (Hudson, N.H.). Senior Sarah Quintal (Richmond, Vt.) kept the offense going in the next play, as she made a run up the flank from her defensive position, and sent a soaring ball into the six yard box where junior Mack Kingman (East Bridgewater, Mass.) was denied a home team tally from LaRoche.
Emmanuel switched gears halfway into the contest and began to test the Lasers' defense. Junior Molly Carey (Lynn, Mass.) set herself up for a breakaway situation in the Saint's offensive third, but misfired the shot just wide to keep the game scoreless 0-0 at Taylor Field.
After the halftime break, freshman Carly Zdanek (Newton, N.J.) took charge for the Lasers' offense and tested LaRoche just one minute into the second stanza. Lasell later lined up for a corner kick at 58:25, taken by sophomore Devon Day (Hartsdale, Vt.). On the cross in, freshman Sabrina Morais (Arlington, Mass.) made her way through Emmanuel's defense on the kick, but overshot the ball just the crossbar.
At 73:35, Emmanuel freshman Brigette Arsenault (Attleboro, Mass.) broke free from the Lasers' defense to create a one on one situation with Lasell sophomore goalkeeper Sarah LaClair (Belchertown, Mass.). Arsenault released a hopeful shot to frame, but was denied the goal as LaClair came out for the diving save, resulting in a Saints' corner.
With just 2:01 left to go in regulation, Cullen capitalized on a lobbed ball played into the box, where she blasted the game-winning goal into the back of the net for the 1-0 triumph.
Lasell doubled up on Emmanuel in shots, 12-6, and both teams were held at three corners each.
LaClair records her first shutout of the season with the win and improves to 2-2 overall, saving two shots on frame. LaRoche drops to 2-6 with the loss, recording seven saves on the day.
The Lasers will travel to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a non-conference match up on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m., while the Saints welcome the University of Massachusetts Boston on Tuesday, September 22 for game time slated for 7:00 p.m.